Friday, September 7, 2018

Feather boa kelp Egregia menziesiiEgregia menziesii is one of the longest intertidal algae in the
Pacific Northwest of North America. This species is characterized by
long fronds (more than 2 m in length) that are similar in appearance to
feather boas (hence the common name, the feather boa kelp). One
individual can have many of these fronds originating at a single
holdfast.... Egregia is limited to high energy rocky shores in the Northeast Pacific Ocean... On San Juan Island, Egregia can be found on the west side of the island, with large populations at Cattle Point and Eagle Cove. Overall, E. menziesii ranges from Baja California, Mexico to Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. (Marine Algae of San Juan Island, WA, USA)

$150M spill-response boost for B.C. coast on hold after Trans Mountain ruling
New oil spill-response bases planned for Vancouver Island have been
thrown into limbo by the Federal Court of Appeal decision that halted
construction on the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion. The Western
Canada Marine Response Corporation, which is responsible for cleaning up
oil spills on B.C.'s South Coast, has been moving forward with a
$150-million plan to enhance spill-response times and capability, in
preparation for the pipeline project.That plan includes a $10-million
hub and training facility in Nanaimo, along with more vessels and
several other response bases on Vancouver Island. Expanded resources are
also planned in Vancouver and along the Fraser River. But the court
ruling last week that stopped construction of the pipeline expansion
means the industry-funded corporation has hit pause on spill-response
improvements. Megan Thomas reports. (CBC)

Not just tankers at fault: Federal oceans minister defends whale protection strategy
The Canadian government is under the spotlight for its handling of
B.C.'s endangered southern resident killer whales, but the federal
minister responsible for oceans says environmentalists are missing the
big picture when it comes to protecting the species.... "It's simply not
true that there has not been action," said Jonathan Wilkinson, the
minister of fisheries and oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard. Clare
Hennig reports. (CBC)

Ailing killer whale swimming off B.C., Washington diagnosed with parasitic worms
Scientists say an emaciated and endangered killer whale that's been
swimming in waters off the west coast has parasitic worms. Michael
Milstein of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says in
an email that biologists are standing by to deliver a dart with
deworming medication to J50. The administration's Facebook page says
genetic analysis of some results of fecal and breath samples the team
collected shows the evidence of parasitic worms. (Canadian Press)

City of Victoria pushing for B.C.-wide ban on disposable plastic packaging
Victoria is asking the province for a provincewide ban on disposable
plastic packaging.... The city’s resolution on plastic packaging is one
of seven Victoria has put to the annual Union of B.C. Municipalities
conference, which begins in Whistler on Sept. 10.... The single-use
plastics resolution asks the province to work with local governments and
retailers, noting Victoria worked with industry for two years before
the introduction of its bylaw. “Unrestricted use of disposable plastic
packaging is inconsistent with the values of British Columbia
residents,” says the resolution, which cites any type of disposable
single-use plastic packaging. which cites any type of disposable
single-use plastic packaging. Cindy E. Harnett reports. (Times-Colonist)

Eight states are fighting Trump’s attempt to declaw the Migratory Bird Treaty
Eight state attorneys general filed a legal challenge Wednesday to the
Trump administration's bid to dramatically weaken the Migratory Bird
Treaty Act, a century-old law established to protect birds. The lawsuit,
led by New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood, and supported by
Maryland, New Jersey, Illinois, Massachusetts, Oregon, California and
New Mexico, is an effort to stop the Interior Department from fully
implementing a directive to its law enforcement division to forgive mass
bird kills, even when the animals are threatened or endangered. In
accordance with a new interpretation of the act issued in April, the
department informed its wildlife police that the slaughter "of birds
resulting from an activity is not prohibited . . . when the underlying
purpose of that activity is not to take birds.” For example, the
guidance said, a person who destroys a structure such as a barn knowing
that it is full of baby owls in nests is not liable for killing them.
“All that is relevant is that the landowner undertook an action that did
not have the killing of barn owls as its purpose,” the opinion said.
Darryl Fears reports. (Washington Post)

These Republicans say they’re green. Can they bridge the environmental divide?
Republicans who care about the environment in Washington State say they
find themselves stuck in an uncomfortable spot. Their politics exist
between two distant poles: President Trump’s pro-coal proposals and
environmental groups historically aligned with Democrats. Now, some
influential Republicans are trying to help conservative college students
chart a different course. Amy Radil reports. (KUOW)

Washington State Ferries works on problem of aging fleet
Though the state ferry system has been plagued by breakdowns this
summer, new vessels are on the way. A new Olympic Class vessel with a
price tag of about $122 million is expected to be put into service this
fall, and Washington State Ferries is developing a long-range plan that
will recommend new vessels to replace the oldest ferries, Deputy
Director of Communications Dana Warr said in an email. The plan will be
delivered to the state Legislature in January, Warr said. Over the past
few weeks, bent propellers, motor issues and docked ferries caused some
serious delays and interruptions in service at the Anacortes terminal,
which serves the San Juan Islands and the route to Sidney, British
Columbia. (Skagit Valley Herald)

International Coastal Cleanup, September 15
The International Coastal Cleanup began more than 30 years ago when
communities rallied together with the common goal of collecting and
documenting the trash littering their coastline. Locally, Washington CoastSavers
is an alliance of partners and volunteers dedicated to keeping the
state’s beaches clean of marine debris through coordinated beach
cleanups, education and prevention. This past Earth Day, Washington
CoastSavers' 1,295 volunteers participated all along Washington’s coast
and collected around 18.8 tons (37,541 pounds) of garbage. To volunteer
locally on September 15, click here .

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Salish Sea Communications provides communications and public relations services that raise visibility and engage audiences. Drawing on over 30 years experience in private, public and not-for-profit work, Mike Sato brings to you his skills and insights in developing and carrying out your print, electronic and social media projects and products. "I've been in the communications business since 1977 starting with community weekly newspapers then working for Seattle City Light, the Puget Sound Water Quality Authority, Hawaiian Electric Company and, for 20 years, People For Puget Sound." Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told. WA State UBI #601395482